Herzog Viking, NY, 1964. First Edition
Heroes in the ancient
mould do not figure in modern novels. In this famous novel, Herzog, by one of America’s best-known modern authors, Saul Bellow, the protagonist struggles from the early pages after
being thrown out of his own house by a scheming wife of great allure, who declares
she never loved him and then makes off with her husband’s house and friend.
Talitha
We see Herzog picking
up the pieces and going on with a life given to much philosophical rambling
thought on everything under the sun; most important of all – how to live the
good life using every wise guide from Spinoza to Nietzsche. His students in class find his lectures growing more strange and his
looks more distant and self-absorbed. Is he going crazy? Is he the paranoid,
depressive victim, or are his enemies doing him in?
KumKum and son, Reuben (visiting)
Fortunately for him,
two endearing women take turns to bless him with their solicitous affection,
and as the novel ends he is considering whether he will be third-time lucky if
he marries.
Thommo, Gopa, Talitha, & Pamela
Here are the readers
at the end of the session:
Zakia, Talitha, Priya, Thommo, KumKum, Shahnaz, Gopa, Joe, Pamela, Ankush, Vijay
Click below to read the full record of the reading.